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The Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it is finalizing the policy harmonizing personal flotation device (PFD) standards between the United States and Canada by accepting a new standard for approval of PFDs. As a result, PFD manufacturers can meet a single North American standard instead of separate standards for the United States and Canada. The standard is outlined in a policy letter with a supporting deregulatory savings analysis. This policy letter is intended to promote the Coast Guard’s maritime safety and stewardship missions. This policy does not affect existing PFD approvals and does not require any action on the part of boaters or mariners who have approved PFDs on board.

Documents mentioned in this notice, and all public comments, are available in our online docket USCG-2018-0565 at http://www.regulations.gov, and can be viewed by following that website’s instructions.

For information about this document call or email Jacqueline Yurkovich, Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1389, email Jacqueline.M.Yurkovich@uscg.mil.

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